Dredge



R. o. coUcH 2,029,85

DREDGE 3 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 4, 1936..

INV ENTOR. Hayden 0. Cozzew .uw du k. v lhm. um, IMK, w w N.

m u QI P, m. k/ k &y\\//\\/ m. www f m N e lll mnl|||| n F R. O. COUCH Feb. 4, 1936.

DREDGE Filed May 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Roydeg 0. Couc M5: @Us ATTORNEYS.

l5 Sheets-Sheetl 5 //S ATTORNEYS.

R. O. COUCH DREDGE Feb.. 4; ma

,Filed May 18, 1955 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

11 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a dredging apparatus which is intended for use primarily in tropical or semi-tropical regions for dredging or cleaning ditches, canals, and similar or other watercourses wherein there may accumulate, from time to time, silts, grasses, water hyacinths and other aquatic growths that retard or obstruct the flow of water through such watercourses. Said materials seriously interfere with and in fact prevent the operation of hydraulic pumps of various types when it is attempted to remove them from the water by such devices.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus which will easily and substantially automatically dredge or treat the whole areas of the watercourses to which the apparatus is applied. whereby the solid matter removed may be discharged on land at points outside of the connes of such watercourses.

The conditions above referred to usually exist in warmer or tropical regions and are particularly severe in connection with irrigation ditches and canals that exist in more or less swampy tracts, such as in the Everglades of Florida. in the United States.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby such vegetable material and solid matter as may be contained in the water will be urged or forced toward the lower end of an intake pipe or conduit into which it is drawn and which carries such matter away so that it will then be conveyed to and deposited at some point removed from the watercourse being dredged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cutter and conveyer attached to my improved dredger so that it may be used to trim or cut the banks of the watercourses in order that they will have uniform, even Slopes where each bank ap'- proaches and enters the water.

It is my desire that the dredging apparatus above referred to shall be operated by any usual power means, such as by an internal combustion engine or, if available, by electric motors supplied with electric current in any preferred well-known way.

For a detailed description of one embodiment of my dredger, reference may be had to the following speciiication and to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved apparatus, showing the general arrangement of the parts associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, certain of the details being omitted for simplicity.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the intake pipe in an inclined position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in an axial direction, showing one turn of the cutting and conveying flanges attached to the blades on lower portion of 5 a shell which rotates around the intake pipe.

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section showing the arrangement of the parts carried by the longitudinally movable carriage that supports the power means and the connections between the 10 intake and discharge pipes.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the main operating parts shown in Fig. 5 taken on the line 6-6 o'f Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is aplan view partly in section of the 15 tripping mechanism for operating the clutches which draw the movable carriage along the truss.

Fig. 8 is an elevational View of the spring actuated portions of the parts shown in Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of a modified form of 20 device for controlling the movable carriage that supports the power device and pipes.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a suitable supporting frame preferably in the form of a truss like those of a bridge, the 25 horizontal and transverse parts thereof being preferably tubular and welded together at their ends to form a practically unitary structure. The frame is provided with the horizontally extending portions I.

The truss frame forms a support for the power means that is indicated by the numeral 2, which power means constitutes the source of power for causing water to flow up through the conduit or pipe 3 and for operating other parts of the 35 device. The upper end of said pipe 3 is connected with a horizontal, substantially linear discharge pipe 4, which is slidably supported, such as on the roller 5, at the left'l hand ends of the frame I, as shown in Figs. land 2. 40

The power means 2, the intake pipe 3, and the discharge pipe 4, are mounted on a movable carriage 6, which is supplied with suitable wheels I running on tracks or rails 8 and 8', attached to the truss frame I. 'Ihe main shaft, 9, of the 45 power means 2, enters a housing ID, where there is provided suitable gears (Fig. 6), one of which is attached to a central shaft II, which passes axially through the intake pipe 3 and terminates adjacent the lower end thereof. It there carries 50 a bladed impeller I2, which, when rotated by the power means, causes the water to circulate upward with the contained solid matter, through the intake pipe 3, and forces thesame into the discharge pipe 4 and then over and onto the 55 adjacent territory. The housing I is rotatably supported on the carriage 6, so that it and the attached pipe 3 may be moved angularly around the axis of the shaft 9, thus enabling the intake pipe 3 to be located at various angles, depending upon the depth of the channel or waterway to be dredged. One angular position thereof is indicated in Fig. 3.

'Ihe intake pipe 3 is surrounded by a shell I3, the lower end of which is .provided with helical cutting and propelling blades I4. The shell I 3 is caused to rotate by means of a gear ring I5 at its upper end, which gear ring meshes with a pinion I6 located on the end of the shaft I'I, said shaft being operatively connected with the source of power 2, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and, by suitable belt pulleys I'I', etc., Aso as to cause the whole shell to rotate and thereby produce a downward motion of the water near the surrounding blades, together with material contained therein. By this means any floating vegetable matter, such as floating grass, water hyacinths, and similar materials, are forced downward and submerged so that the inowing current produced at the lower end of the intake conduit 3 will draw them in and discharge them through the outlet conduit 4 beyond the confines of the channel or other watercourse being dredged.

The lower portion of the rotary shell I3 that is provided with the blades I4, which carry at their outer margins angular cutting flanges I 8, which extend angularly downward (Fig. 4), toward the lower ends of the shell I3 with reference to the helical blades I4 or similar suitable supports. These flanges are availed of for the purpose of trimming the banks of the watercourse so as to give them the desired angle, the sharp edges thereof serving to cut roots and other soft vegetable matter which may be encountered during the trimming of such banks. They also aid in forcing the dislodged matter downward 'toward the lower end of the pipe 3 (Fig. 6).

Referring now to Figs. 3, 5 vandY 6, the apparatus for determining the angle of the intake pipe 3 and the connected parts will 4now be described.

At the upper portionof the rotary shell I3 there is located a cylindrical supporting member 20 having an openingl through whichy the gear I6 may project to mesh with the gear ring I5. The lowerA end of the member 29 is provided with means 2| having eyes or `metallic loops 22 carried thereby-for attaching the end lof a rope or cable 23 which passes upward and over a pulley or sheave wheel 24 andY then around a drum 25. The shaft of said drum 25 carries =a ratchet wheel 2S above which there is a pawl 2l. The opposite end of the shaft, which carries the `drurn 25, is provided with a gear 28 which meshes `with a small pinion 29, the shaft of which is -connected with a crank arm 3G having a handle r3I'. It will now be seen that by rotation of the handle 3! the cable 23 will be wound on the drum 25 and consequently the cylindrical member `241 carrying the shell I3 and the intake pipe 3 will be raised. If it be desired to lower the same, the pawl 21 may be released and the pipe 3`may then be lowered to a more nearly vertical position. This apparatus is duplicated on the opposite side of the frame I so that the inclination of the intake pipe may be established at other angles on the opposite side below the frame I. The cable therefor is indicated by the numeral 23', said cable also passing over the drum 25 so that it will be unwound therefrom when the cable 23 is wound thereon and vice versa. This arrangement also provides supports when the whole apparatus is being transported from one body of water or watercourse to another, in which case the intake pipe is preferably supported in a horizontal position so that it will not drag along the ground.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the end of the carriage 5 is provided with a vertical plate 32 which carries a flange 33 adapted to contain and slide upon another ange 34 carried by the housing Ii?, these flange members being so interlocked as to form relatively rotatable parts like :a trunnion to permit the housing IU and the intake pipe 3 to rotate around the axis of the shaft 9.

If found necessary under certain conditions, the joint 35 at the right hand end of the discharge pipe 4 may also consist cf parts which will move relative to each other and allow relative rotation of the inclined portion 4 of the pipe 4. However, since the whole pipe 4 is capable of rotation, this may not be deemed necessary.

Referring now to the mechanism for moving the carriage 6 longitudinally along the tracks 8, the power device 2 being mounted on said carriage is connected with the shaft 9 above referred to. This shaft is provided with a suitable toothed wheel which preferably carries a sprocket-chain 36 which also passes over a similar toothed wheel 31 on the shaft 38. The shaft 38 carries a Worm4 gear 39 which meshes with a complementary gear 40 carried centrally on a shaft 4I. The shaft 4I is provided with clutch members 42 and 42' fixed thereto. Slidable on said shaft 4I are complementary clutch members 43 and 43', which are connected with 4drums 44 and 44'. Said drums are attached to cables 45 and 45', whose outer ends are anchored to some xed part of the truss frame. These clutch members are caused to be engaged and disengaged by suitable arms 43 and 46', which are connected at their upper ends by a transverse rod 4l (Fig. '7). Centrally engaging the rod 4l is one end of a bell crank lever 48, the angular part 49 of which being U-shaped, as

shown in Fig. 8. Said bell-crank lever is pivoted on a fixed pivot at 53. Pivoted on the same pivot 5I) is a U-shaped yoke 5I which is provided with an extending bar 52 projecting toward a stop 54 attached to flange 53 carried on the rail 8'. The end of the bar 52 is in the path of the stop 54. Between the end of the U-shaped yoke 5I and arm 49 of the bell-crank lever 48 is a helical tension spring 5I' which will draw the bell-crank lever 48 to the left or right when the spring 55 on said bell-crank lever is above or below the pivot 59.

A second stop similar to the stop 54 is provided at the other end of the track 8 so that said bar 52 will engage the same at the other end of the travel of the carriage along the truss.

As indicated in Fig. 7, it is assumed that the carriage is approaching the stop 54. In that case the bar 52 will immediately thereafter engage said stop and throw said arm to another angular position (shown by dotted lines in said figure) and will therefore shift the rod 47 toward the right. That motion will disengage the clutch members 42 and 43 and cause the clutch members 42 and 43' to become engaged with each other, and so will cause the drum 44 to rotate and wind thereon the cable 45 which will cause the carriage 6 to move toward the right as in Figs. l, 2, 5and 6. When the motion of the carriage has been reversed at the opposite end of the truss frame, the same will travel toward the left hand in Figs.

1, 2, 5 and 6, since the bar 52 has caused the clutch members 42 and 43 to engage each other again and wind the cable 45 on the drum 44', the motion of the carriage will be toward the left as before.

Instead of using the automatic control for the carriage 6 and attached parts, the carriage may be manually controlled. That may be accomplished by adding to the bell-crank lever 48-49 and bar 52, a hand lever 56 (Fig. 9), so that by moving the same in either of two directions it will cause the rod 4l to force engagement of the clutch members operated thereby (see Figs. 5 and 9).

Referring now to the means for supporting and moving the truss frame I along the watercourse, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a tractor indicated by the numeral 55. (At the right of Figs. l and 2.) That tractor is, of course, provided with its primary power unit and controlled devices. It is provided with a circular plate 56 in the nature of a fth wheel upon which rests another circular plate 56 carried by the end of the truss frame I. A hinge or pivot pin 5'I connects the fifth wheel 55 with the end of the frame I.

The tractor 55 has a power unit 55' to provide the necessary power for moving the opposite end of the truss frame along the length of the watercourse being dredged. On the opposite end of the truss frame I is a circular plate 58 which contacts with a fifth` wheel 58', from which suitable supports 59 project downward engaging the tractor or caterpillar tread 60, at the left of Figs. l and 2. The plates 58 and 58 can be fastened together during normal operation of the apparatus.

These treads permit the motion of the left hand end of the truss frame along the banks of the watercourse being dredged. They may be drawn along by the motion of the truss-frame produced by the tractor at the right hand end of the frame, may be drawn by a separate tractor or may be provided with power driving means in the following way:-

Ihe right hand tractor 55 is provided with a power unit 55 and a clutch 6I on the controlled shaft 52, on which there is a toothed wheel (not shown), over which runs a sprocket chain 63. A similar toothed wheel is fixed to the shaft 62. The latter operates a sprocket chain 64 on the tractor 50, at the left of Fig. 1. Said chain 54 is connected with the tractor treads of the tractor S5 to drive them along a the desired speed when the clutch BI is engaged by the operator. That capability together with the control of the main power unit of the tractor 55 permits steering the whole apparatus along the watercourse being dredged. The shaft 62' is provided with suitable universal joints, as at 65, where angles in the driving shaft may be required, said shaft being carried on suitable bearings B6.

Ihus these means provide for moving the right and left hand 'ends of the truss frame along the bank of the watercourse being dredged, and will also support and carry the ends of the frame when it is being transported from one place to another, at which times the shaft 62 and the sprocket chain 64 may be disconnected to allow angular movements of the tractor treads.

The means above referred to for supporting and moving the truss frame I along the watercourse constitute one form thereof that I have found useful. Other forms may be adopted, and in some instances the power driven tractors may be supplied at each end of the truss frame, or in case caterpillar treads are alone used, said caterpillar treads may be advanced alo'ng the watercourse by suitable power means that are mounted on the truss frame itself and connected therewith, such as by using means like the drums 44 and 44 for that purpose.

Such variations, being within the choice of one skilled in the art, do not affect the essential na ture of my invention, the main desideratum being that the truss frame shall be movable along the watercourse to be dredged and at the same time may be transported overland to other points, should it become necessary to dredge other channels than the one primarily operated upon.

By providing the adjustable cutting flanges carried on the rib at the lower portion of the shell I3 around the intake conduit 3, the banks of the watercourse may be cut or trimmed to the desired angle, the earth and vegetable matter being loosened so that it will be forced down and into said intake pipe and then discharged, as above described, beyond the banks of the canal or watercourse being dredged.

Having described these forms of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to the details thereof, but what I claim and desire to protect under Letters Patent, is:

1. In a dredging device, the combination comprising, a supporting frame adapted to rest on the banks of and to extend over and be moved along the watercourse to be dredged, an intake conduit or pipe movably carried on said frame and adapted to move longitudinally along the same, a water-circulating device in said conduit,

power means connected with said circulating de` vice, and a longitudinally movable discharge pipe connected with and extending from said intake `conduit and along said frame to a point beyond one end thereof to afford the discharge of dredged material beyond the confines of said watercourse.

power connected with said device, and a longi-l l tudinally movable discharge pipe connected with and extending from said intake conduit and along said frame to a point beyond one end thereof to afford the discharge of the dredged material beyond the connes of said watercourse.

3. In a dredging device, an intake conduit, a circulating device therein, power means connected therewith for causing water to circulate through said conduit, a rotary shell surrounding said conduit and conveying means fixed to the outer surface at the lower portion of said shell to force contained solid matter downward toward the submerged end of said intake conduit.

4. In a dredging device, the combination comprising, a supporting frame, means connected with the ends thereof for providing movement of said frame along a watercourse to be dredged, an intake pipe or conduit movably carried on said frame, an impeller in said conduit, a source of power on said frame and connected with said impeller, a substantially linear discharge pipe connected with and extending from said intake conduit and along said frame to a point beyond one end thereof, a rotary shell surrounding said intake conduit, and cutting and conveying means said shell to force solid matter downward toward the submerged end of said intake conduit.

5, In a dredging device, the combination comprising, an intake pipe, a rotary supporting means connected with the lower p-ortion of said pipe, means for rotating said supporting means, and helical cutting and conveying blades carried by said supporting means and adapted to trim the banks of the watercourse over which the dredging device is used and to force dislodged material downward.

6. In a dredging device, the combination comprising, an intake pipe, a rotary shell surrounding said intake pipe, means for rotating said shell, helical cutting and conveying blades fixed to the outer surface at the lower portion of said shell, said blades being angularly disposed with reference to the surface of said shell and reduced in diameter progressively to trim the banks of the watercourse over which said dredging device is used, at a desired angle or slope and force dislodged material downward.

'7. In a dredging device, the combination comprising a suitable supporting frame, power means thereon, an intake pipe having an impeller therein and movably carried on said frame and connected with said lpower means, a rotary shell surrounding said intake pipe, means connected with said power means for rotating said shell, and cutting devices carried at an angle to the surface i said shell and adapted to trim the banks of the watercourse over which said dredging device is used, at a desired angle or slope and to force dislodged material downward.

8. In a dredging device, the combination comprising, a supporting frame, means connected therewith for moving the same over and along a watercourse to be dredged, an intake pipe adjustably carried on said frame, power driven means for causing water and solid matter to flow through said intake pipe, and a discharge pipe connected therewith and extending laterally along said frame, a movable carriage on which said parts are mounted and adapted to travel along said frame, said discharge pipe being supported on said frame adjacent its outer end to cause the same to project beyond the end of said frame to allow the discharge of dredged material beyond the confines of said watercourse.

- xed to the outer surface at the lower portion of 9. In a dredging device, the combination coinprising, a supporting frame, means for conveying said frame alongthe banks of a watercourse to be dredged, a longitudinally movable carriage mounted on said frame, a source of power fixed to said carriage, and an intake pipe having its upper end located adjacent the said power device and having a housing provided with means to allow angular movement thereof relative to the said power device, whereby changes in the position of said intake pipe or conduit may be afforded from a vertical position upward, according to the varying depths of the water being dredged.

l0. In a dredging device, the combination comprising, a supporting frame, a movable carriage mounted on tracks onsaid frame, a source of power fixed to said carriage, an intake pipe having water-circulating means therein and having its upper end located adjacent said power device, an outlet pipe connected with said intake pipe, means for moving said carriage and said pipes in both directions along said rails and comprising clutches for connecting said power device with said means, and means located on said carriage for operating said clutches and causing reversal of the travel of said carriage at desired points in its motion.

ll. In a dredging device, the combination comprising, a supporting frame, means for conveying said frame along a watercourse to be dredged, a carriage mounted on said frame and adapted to move longitudinally thereon, a source of power fixed to said carriage and connected with the latter to move the same longitudinally on said frame, an intake conduit having its upper end located adjacent said power device and having a housing provided with means which allow angular movement of said conduit relative to said power device, a discharge pipe connected with said intake pipe, a rotary shell carried by said intake conduit, and helical conveying means fixed to the outer surface at the lower portion of said shell to force the solid matter downward toward the submerged end of said intake conduit whileY the latter is in different positions according to the width and depth of said watercourse being dredged.

ROYDEN O. COUCH. 

